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Nuclear reactors are inherently dangerous (or so the majority of scientist tell us, but what do those weenies know?). A nuclear reactor is a HUGE pot of incredibly toxic stuff. All anyone can do is attempt to contain the danger. But you can’t do it 100%. Thus, Fukushima.

So over time there will be again and again these disasters that will spew that wonderfully helpful radiation dose that Ann Coulter is so fond of. I heard she’s opening a health spa next to Fukushima using the recycled cooling water, going to make a “killing”. (For those who can’t tell, it’s a joke.)

BTW, people who claim that nuclear energy is cheap are not taking into account all the costs. In reality it is generally 30% more than they claim when all the cleanup and storage and health care and lost real estate is taken into account. Any more steps to make nuclear “more safe” will increase that price logarithmically. It’s “cheap” because it is subsidized, like oil, and some of the true costs are “externalized” meaning some other poor sucker has to pay for it, like how coal is cheap because the damage from the mercury poisoning and other bleeep coming out the stacks becomes the problem of kids living within 25-50 or so miles. Stoopid kids, shouldn’t play in that stuff! Deserve to be kicked out of the gene pool, along with your parents, right?

Solar, wind, and geothermal energy are all competitive right now with the true cost of nuclear, yet without the environmental and health risks. Geothermal energy has huge potential, but nobody is giving it the attention it needs to take off. Fully developed it could replace most or all of the nuke plants. It’s just not sexy enough compared to the exotic allure of “nukyular” nor is it going to make massive fortunes (probably the real reason it is neglected since once you build a geothermal plant, there’s no fuel charge, only maintenance). Similar with wind and solar. And there’s no down time from weather, or any storage problem, it’s 24/7/365.

Care to have a nuke plant in your backyard instead? How about some gas frac wells? Oh, just the thought of having your tap water flammable enough to heat your house! WooHoo! Free Energy! C’mon over for a weenie roast!

Amazing that folks afraid of everything if it hits the fan, are NOT willing to turn down their consumption. ALL “energy” is costly. Nuclear can be “safer” than a coal fired plant, or even natural gas. Hydro also destroys whole ecosystems, as might solar and wind, if improperly planned. That most “energy” impacts those “worthless” desert areas, or remote regions is a big part of the problem. Build a nuclear plant on “ground zero” in New York, and bury the waste under that rock called Manhattan. Save on distribution costs.

The path to energy independence is not going to be cheap nor without risk. Nuclear will be part of the mix because it works. The real stupidity is wars and military bases around the world that drain capital and manpower that could be used at home educating the future scientists, replacing obsolete nuclear plants or plants not well located, and developing alternate sources and technology.

About Stuart Carlson

Editorial cartoonist Stuart Carlson has the unique ability to look at current events and bring them from that far away place where news is made and into the homes and daily lives of his readers. His material not only targets politicians and recognizable media figures, but it also covers topics that hold up a mirror to everyday Americans and sends them into action, wanting to take on the issues in their own lives.